Automotive
The number of electronic
components being used in
automotive designs is increasing
rapidly. A large proportion of the
investment and innovation being
made in new designs is based on
electronics and software.
Consumer buying decisions are
increasingly influenced by the
features enabled by electronic
systems, such as infotainment,
driver assistance and engine
management. Furthermore,
electric-motor technology is
replacing many mechanicallyactuated
systems, such as steering
racks, electronic gear shifts and
braking.
Since safety is critical to
automotive design, component
manufacturers are offering devices
with increased reliability or
compliance to rigorous standards.
NXP’s CAN transceiver, for
example, now features improved
ESD performance (see page 081138).
The introduction of advanced
control systems is placing
demands on existing automotive
communication technology.
Discrete wiring looms are making
way for advanced networks, which
simplify design, reduce weight and
offer additional protection features,
such as CAN, LIN and FlexRay.
Freescale is supporting this trend by
integrating FlexRay networking into
their family of 32-bit Flash-based
MCUs see page 081137.
Manufacturers are also integrating
features (such as system protection)
to simplify design and reduce the
number of external components
required. With a variety of built-in
capabilities, ON Semiconductor’s
CAN transceiver minimises the
number of external components
used in 12V and 24V automotive
applications (see page 081126).
This trend towards electronic
innovation looks set to continue,
with scope for further development
in areas such as collision avoidance,
traffic management, vehicle tracking
and road tolling. Electronics will play
a central role in these new
automotive designs, and the
components highlighted in this
issue of FTM will help engineers to
drive this innovation.
Application Spotlight on automotive components, pages 081135 - 081144
Automotive components at electronica, pages 081125 - 081132
Next-generation automotive dome-light module design, page 081134
Transceiver Passes the FlexRay™ Physical-Layer Conformance Test
NXP Semiconductors’ TJA1080A
transceiver has passed the FlexRay
physical-layer conformance test, the
industry standard for FlexRay
products. The TJA1080A can
therefore enable faster development
times and fewer issues in production.
Using the high-speed FlexRay network
communications system, car makers can
introduce advanced features that are
transforming safety and comfort
in the car. The TJA1080A
transceiver addresses car
manufacturers’ need for these
communication systems.
Aimed primarily at communication
systems from 1Mbit/s to 10Mbit/s, the
TJA1080A provides an advanced interface
between the protocol controller and the physical
bus in a FlexRay network. It can be configured as a
node transceiver or as a branch of an active star
coupler.
The device also monitors the system
performance such as internal voltage,
temperature, and bus error to provide secure
communication on the FlexRay network system.
The dedicated error and status information is
readable by any microcontroller.
The TJA1080A supports the mode control
used in NXP's TJA1055 and TJA1041. A bus-guardian
interface enables its use in
systems that require additional
supervisions. The TJA1080A
transceiver delivers a
number of significant
enhancements over its
predecessor, the
TJA1080, whilst full
compatibility means
that no software
adaptations are necessary when
upgrading from the TJA1080 to TJA1080A.
FEATURES
 |
- Improved power-on reset behavior
- Fully conforms to Electrical Physical Layer Specification V2.1 Rev. A
- Upgraded transmitter circuit to reduce emission on bus lines
- Enhanced receiver circuit - higher RF immunity enables 70ns bit time
|
 |
|
|
|
Previous Page
Previous Page